Lot remains to be done in education,health sectors:CM

Barasat, Jan 24 (UNI) Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said a lot remained to be done on the health and literacy sectors in West Bengal.

He claimed that though the state had reduced the below poverty line(BPL) population by 30 per cent during the Left Front regime, improvement in health and literacy was not yet adequate.

Inaugurating a three-day mass education and self dependence conference at the Vidyasagar stadium complex here, the chief minister also emphasised on women's emancipation by improving their economic status.

Mr Bhattacharjee pointed out that five lakh children still remained away from schools ''despite our efforts towards educating them''. Besides, mass literacy programme was not yet fulfilled, he rued. He urged the women to take interest to get their children educated and asked them to join the literacy centres in their respective villages.

''At least 56 to 57 lakh women are now able to contribute to their families. They earn the money working with the SHGs in different sectors,'' Mr Bhattacharjee said.

He also inquired into the prevailing situation under which the SHGs worked during his visit to as many as 36 stalls installed by the SHGs.

He said this had been started through formation of nearly 6.4 lakh self help groups.

He observed that the state government would have to pressurise banks to grant more loans to the active groups for sustaining their effort.

UNI XC PL MSJ KP1527